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Friday, February 26, 2010

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:1-3

This morning I learned that a high school friend had passed away during the night. As I read these words, my heart was grieved when I pondered the question, “Was my friend of long ago, a Christian?” As high school chums we were not Christian friends, far from it. We had lost contact over the years and I knew nothing about his life until I had received word of his illness and then death. I quickly emailed the friend that had informed me of his passing and asked her if our mutual friend knew Christ. She immediately responded, “YES!” What relief filled my heart to know he would spend eternity in Heaven with our Lord.

What comfort there is in knowing someone you love is in Heaven a wonderful, gracious, gift from God. What sights to behold, pleasures to experience, a place prepared for you who know Christ as Savior. Have you imagined yourself walking on streets of gold, standing by the River of Life or having your name read from The Lamb’s Book of Life? Have you pictured the Gates of Pearl or the mansion designed for you?

This place called Heaven is where God dwells and where Christ will be for all eternity. Can you picture in your mind the scars Jesus sustained for you and me? Do the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” ring out in your ears? Will the overwhelming presence of God bring the true meaning of “eternity” to heart? Does singing praises to the Lamb, Who is worthy to be praised, bring tremendous joy to your spirit? In all sincerity, are you looking forward to the day when life is no more and you are in the presence of God?

Thought:

Heaven is a wonderful place and you as a Christian are privileged and honored to call this place, home. In remembering those who have gone before you, and praying for those who are on the brink of Heaven’s shore, I pray you are preparing yourselves for this incredible journey and even now working while there is yet time. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (John 9:4 ) Heaven is a promise from God to those who know Him as personal Savior. Are you sharing His promise with those who know not Christ?

Friday, February 19, 2010

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:1,2,8,15,16)

If we are the children of God, then we ought to fellowship with the Father. We are to walk as children of light, in wisdom and purity. The word “followers” in verse 1 is the word mimics so that we may say, “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as dear children.” Paul gave several purposes why we should walk in fellowship with the Father.

We are to walk in fellowship with the Father in love. Walking with God and in fellowship with Him teaches us to love Him and others as He loves. Without His abundant love abounding in our hearts, we cannot truly love others as we are commandedto do.

We are to walk in fellowship with the Father as children of light. Since we are to imitate the Father, then we should walk in the light having nothing to do with the darkness of sin. It is beneath the dignity of a saint of God to indulge in the sins which Paul names in Ephesians 5:3,4. Walking in fellowship with the Father is walking in the light of the Word of God daily, “called out of darkness unto His marvelous light.” (I Peter 2:9)

We are to walk in fellowship with the Father in wisdom. Circumspect comes from two Latin words which mean, “looking around.” See that you walk carefully, circumspectly, with guidance from the Word of God. Only a fool drifts with the wind and the tide but a person that walks in the fellowship of the Father walks in the knowledge and understanding of God’s will.

Conclusion:

To walk in the fellowship of the Father is to walk in His love, with the light of His Word, guided by His wisdom. To fellowship with the Father is to follow Him being imitators of Christ that He may transform our minds through His glorious Word.